Online Fraud Resource Center
We hope that by educating people about fraud, we can make Cyberspace a safer place to do business.

Do not wire transfer money to people you don't know, including people you "met" on an auction site or someone who "hires" you from overseas. See Western Union's Web site FAQs about Consumer Fraud:
http://www.westernunion.com/info/faqSecurity.asp


"What to Do If You Are Ripped Off Online"

1) File a complaint with eBay File a report immediately with eBay Rules & Safety: http://pages.ebay.com/help/basics/select-RS.html. In order to be considered for eBay's Fraud Protection Program, you should also submit an Online Fraud Complaint at http://crs.ebay.com/aw-cgi/ebayisapi.dll?crsstartpage 30 days after the listing end-date.

2) File a complaint with the FTC
https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01

3) File a complaint with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center http://www.ic3.gov/

4) Contact law-enforcement officials at the local and state level (your local and state police departments)

5) Also contact law-enforcement officials in the perpetrator's town & state

6) File a complaint with the shipper USPS http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect

7) File a complaint with the National Fraud Information Center http://www.fraud.org/info/contactnfic.htm

8) File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org

Auction Fraud Resources

eBayersThatSuck.com

National Fraud Information Center

Escrow Fraud Tips

"Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online"
Book by J.A. Hitchcock, edited by Loraine Page
2002 CyberAge Books (Information Today Inc.)

Identity Theft Resources

FTC Site on Identity Theft
http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Mari Frank's Site on Identity Theft (for-profit site)
http://www.identitytheft.org/faq.htm

Identity Theft Resource Center
http://www.idtheftcenter.org

Hoax Emails/Phishing Scams

AuctionBytes Article "Auction Users: Beware Hoax Emails"
http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y203/m10/abu0104/s04

FTC Consumer Alert: "How Not to Get Hooked by a 'Phishing' Scam"
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/phishingalrt.htm

IRS Fraud Resources
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=132286,00.html
http://www.irs.gov/compliance/enforcement/article/0,,id=106778,00.html

Anti-Phishing Working Group
http://www.antiphishing.org

Associated Press Article
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/02/tech/main610060.shtml

AuctionBytes Fraud Forum
http://www.auctionbytes.com/forum/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=28